Cattle-guard.



No. 630,329. Patented Aug. 8, I899.

B. C. CUMMINGS. 1

CATTLE GUARD.

(Applicstion filed May 4, 1899.)

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(Application filed Kay 4, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I W Ml! 1H Wm H 1 UNITED STATE I PATENT FFICE.

RODRICK C. CUMMINGS, OF MALONE, NEWV YORK.

CATTLE-G UARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,329, dated August 8, 1899. Application filed May 4, 1899. Serial No. 715,577. (No model.)

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to cattle-guards for railways of the class which are actuated bythe Weight of the animal when stepping upon a platform to which the guard is pivotally attached, said guard normally folding, so as not to obstruct the track or interfere with the free movement of trains.

The invention will appear and be more fully set forth hereinafter, and to this end and to a full disclosure of the merits and advantages of the same reference is to be had to the following description and the views of the drawings hereto attached.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is to be understood that under certain conditions various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of constructionv may be resorted to without de-- parting from the nature or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

1n the drawings, Figure -1 is a top plan view of a section of railway, showing the invention operatively applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the guard as it will appear when ac-.

tuated and obstructing the passage of the animal from one inclosure to another. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line X Xof Fig. 1, the guard being folded. Fig. t is a" view similar to Fig. 3, the guard being elevated. Fig. 5 is a front View of the bail and its supports. Fig. 6 is a front view of the arched frame or standard.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The invention in common with like appliances is designed to prevent the passage of cattle from one field or inclosure to another or into the inclosureof the railway. Atthe gap or break in the line of fencing through which the railway passes the guard is located tlie'ends of the fencing.

Fig..

and consists of three parts or separate and independent guards, one arranged between the rails of the track and the other two at the sides of the track and between the'latter and Inasmuch as the guards are alike in construction, a detail description of one only will be given. l A bail 1 is composed of a horizontal portion 2 and vertical arms 3, which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to standards or supports 4 adjacent to the rails of the track and secured at their lower ends to a tie thereof. The bail is preferably formed of a rod or bar having its end portions formed into eyes which receive journals 5, projecting laterally from the upper ends of the standards 4:. An arched frame or standard 6 is secured to a tie of the railway and is located a distance from the bail, and its horizontal portion 7 forms a support for the guard 8, which is mounted to turn thereon.

The guard 8 may be of any suitable construction, and as shown is composed of side bars 9, crossed braces 10, and an end bar 11, the parts being firmly joined at their overlapping ends. by means ofbolts, rivets, or other like fastenings. The side bars 9 are extended in the rear of-the archedframe or standard 6 and are hinged or-pivoted to the rear end of the platform 12. Staples or U- shaped clips 13 are applied to the side bars of the guard and receive thehorizontal por- Ition7 of the frame 6 and connect said guard with the said frame.

The platform 12 is loosely supported at its front end upon the horizontal portion 2 of the ,tersecting the end portions of the transverse grooves, receiving the U-shaped clips or staples 13, thereby permitting the guard to fold close against the top side of the platform. A fender or strip 16 is attached'to'the top side of the platform 12 andi's inclined forwardly and downwardly and is disposed so as to extend in front of the guard 8 when the latter is folded, thereby preventing any obstacle from lodging against the forward end of the guard. i

The middle guard is located between the rails of the track, and its edges are spaced about two inches therefrom, so as to provide ample clearance for the wheels of a passing car or train. The guard is proportionedand arranged so as to occupy a position below the plaiie of the rails, so as to be normally out of the way. The side guards are similarly disposed, and their inner edges are spaced from the rails a proper distance, so as not to 0bstruct or interfere with the wheels of a passing train. These side guards occupy the space between the extremities of the fencing and the rails of the track. As previously stated, the guard normally occupies a folded posi tion. In the event of animals attempting to pass from one inclosure to another or upon the railway the weight of the animal when stepping upon the platform 12 will be sufiicient to lower or cause the descent of the rear end of said platform and the corresponding end of the guard pivoted thereto, and as the rear end of the guard is depressed its forward end will be correspondingly elevated by reas. l Of the guard turning upon the horizontal portion 7 of the arched frame or standard 6.

portion 7 and normally exerts a pressure or force to hold the parts in a normal or given position.

The platform is considerably longer than the guard, being about double the length, and is disposed with the projecting'end portion in front of the free end of the guard, so

uard in a van o i axia or that an animal stepping upon the front end of the platform will cause the guard to swing upwardly and rearwardly and prevent the animal from advancing thereon and pressing it down upon the platform, which would be the case if the guard were disposed to swing upward and forward, with the free end facing away from the approach instead of toward it, as in the present instance. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a cattle-guard, the combination with a guard pivotall'y supported a distance from its rear end and normally folded, of a platform having hinged or pivotal connection at its rear end with the rear end of the guard and normally elevated thereby, and a fender or strip secured to the top side of the platform for ,the front end of the guard to fold behind, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A cattle-guard, comprising standards having lateral journals, a bail suspended from said journals, an arched frame located at a distancefrom said standards, a guard mounted to turn upon the horizontal portion of the embed ame a d adapted to swi g up ard and rearward at its free end, clips connectng h g ard wi the said me, an a pla form loosely supported at its front end upon the horizontal portion of the bail and having its rear end pivoted ,or hinged to the rearend of the guard in the rear of the horizontal portion of the saidarched frame, and having a transverse seat to receive the horizontal portion of the frame,and intersectingdepressions to receive the clips, said platform having its front portion extending in advance of the free end of the guard when the latter is folded, s antial y a specified.-

In testimony whereof I affix my signatn re in presence of two Witnesses.

RODRICK O, CUMMINGS. [L. s.] 

